Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 8-10
Baptism symbolizes one’s burial with Christ and resurrection with Him. The immersion symbolizes burial with Christ and emergence from water symbolizes resurrection. Romans 6:3-4 says know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. The bible requirements for baptism are simple. First of all, one must understand what baptism is and why he or she needs to be baptized. It impossible for one to say he or she is saved and yet does not know what salvation is. So also one must understand what baptism is before going for baptism. Secondly, one must have a saving relationship with Christ. Faith must precede baptism, in other words, one must be saved before going for baptism.
It is important to know that baptism does not save a person. It does not matter if you were baptized by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling – if you have not first trusted in Christ for salvation, baptism (no matter the method) is meaningless and useless. I once witnessed a boy who had just been baptized, chasing another boy with a broken bottle. That fellow was not baptized but bathed because he is not walking in the newness of life.
This brings us to the question, is Paedobaptism biblical? Paedobaptism is a big word which simply means infant baptism. There are no explicit instances of infant baptism in the entire bible. In the three “household baptism” mentioned (household of Lydia, Acts 16:15; household of the Philippian Jailer, Acts 16:30-33; household of Stephanus, 1 Corinthians 1:16) no mention is made of infants , and in the case of the Philippian Jailer, Luke says explicitly, “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house” ( Acts 16:32), implying that the household who were baptized could understand the Word. Baptism is an act done through faith. Colossians 2:12 says buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. What this means is that, how we were buried with Christ in baptism and how we were raised with him in baptism was through faith. Infants are not capable of this, and therefore infants are not fit subjects of baptism. They don’t know what baptism is , talk less of having faith. If you were baptized as an infant, why not prayerful consider this and go for proper baptism.
PRAYER POINT: Father, as Christ resurrected, let every good thing that has died in my life resurrect.
Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.
